Why did the sonographer ask this question?

[duebaby2]

So I went for my 20 week ultrasound today and during the ultrasound she asked if I’ve had a previous c-section or anything similar? I said no. This was after being told I had an anterior placenta. Then she asked if I definitely hadn’t had a c-section before as I was leaving the room, I said no and left, the midwife I saw afterward didn’t say anything, so this will be something to bring up at my rescan in the next two weeks.

I’m now wondering why she would have asked that? I did have to have manual removal of placenta last pregnancy but didn’t think to mention this 🤦🏼‍♀️ But it isn’t a section so that’s probably what was going through my mind at the time.

It is now going round my head as to why she was so insistent on asking me so many times like I wasn’t telling her the truth, even though I have only given birth once and it was vaginally.

Maybe there was scar tissue

Possibly scar tissue?

I got asked this too. My placenta was showing increased blood flow and no clear demarcation between the uterus and uterus wall. I then remembered to mention that I had had to have a termination the year before due to a foetal abnormality.

I had to go back at 24 weeks for another scan and the placenta was still abnormal so I have now been referred to a teaching hospital at 30 weeks to look at a delivery plan etc. It can mean the placenta is too embedded (placenta accreta) and may not detach after labour. I think it’s more common if you’ve had previous c sections as the placenta can attach to scar tissue. I assume my uterus was damaged after the procedure last year. Baby is growing normally so no worries there.

Have you been offered the rescan to check the placenta again?

@dementedpixie do you reckon that’ll be from having retained placenta previously? I’m trying to avoid having retained placenta again. However my placenta with my first was posterior whereas this one is anterior. She never said anything about scarring

Do your notes mention if the placenta is low lying? Anterior
(particularly low lying) placentas when you’ve previously had a caesarean are a risk for placenta accreta/percreta. Essentially where the placenta is too deeply embedded in the womb due to scar tissue. If they suspected this, you would have more detailed imaging such as MRI to check.

If it’s anterior, no caesarean scar and not low-lying, there’s absolutely nothing to worry about.

If it’s anterior, no caesarean but is low-lying, they’ll do a repeat scan at 34-36 weeks to confirm its not blocking your cervix.

If you had a manual removal previously you should be offered a Consultant appointment at some stage to discuss anyway. It’s extremely unlikely to happen twice, but they will likely recommend you give birth on the Consultant-led or alongside MLU birth centre (rather than freestanding MLU or at home) just in case.

fibroid?

@Otto8 yes I’ve been offered a rescan due to the lady not being able to see all of baby and get correct measurements.

I really hope I don’t have placenta accreta. They never picked up anything until birth with my first and put it down to just being a first time mum and rather large baby. This time they seem to be taking everything way more seriously and checking everything.

@AsMuchUseAsAMarzipanDildo no it just says anterior. I do have growth scans later on so I’m surely they’ll check again then too

I’ve got all my consultant appointments through and the first one is on Tuesday. Unfortunately I don’t like the consultant so it’s going to be an interesting appointment. I did want a planned section this time round. Even if I didn’t I’d still want to be in the consultant led unit anyway like I was previously

@TheVanguardSix surely that would have been noted on my scan paperwork or said to me?

I feel the same and really hope I don’t have to have a c section and worse case is also a hysterectomy but at least they are being very careful. Ask lots of questions at your next appointments otherwise you will continue to worry and most likely all is completely fine x

It sounds as if she was just checking for placenta accreta risk, which happily it doesn’t sound as if you have.

If there were any concerns at all with it (such as blood flow, invasion, site etc) she would have let you know (in a reassuring manner of course) and it would be documented in your scan report. Otherwise they wouldn’t know what to look for at your next scan.

You can always ask for clarification at your next scan or Consultant appointment, but really sounds like just the sonographer ticking boxes x

I was asked - in front of DH - if I’d ever had a termination. Something to do with the thinness of the uterine wall or something.

I have never had a termination and said so, but the sonography looked at me like he didn’t believe me.

I’m hoping I can clear this all up at my rescan in the next two weeks so I can put my brain to rest lol, I’m such a worrier.

I had what looked like scar tissue on a scan years ago, never had a c-section, they thought it was a fibroid at the follow-up scan, it wasn't. For the life of me, I can't remember what it was, but in the end, it was nothing. That was 10 years ago.

@TheVanguardSix surely that would have been noted on my scan paperwork or said to me?

I mean, perhaps at the time, the technician didn't recognise it as such. It probably isn't a fibroid but it reminded me of my own similar experience years ago.

@TheVanguardSix Ah fair enough